Sunday, September 14, 2008

I Have Completed My 46 Miles for 46 Years!

With the completion of today's 19 mile long run, I have finished a 46 mile running week (actually ran a total of 46.5 miles) in celebration of my 46th birthday. And what a week of running it has been!!! Overall, my runs have been strong and felt really good! Even today's 19 miler.

As has been typical recently, I was up while it was still dark and outside my driveway waiting for my Garmin to find the satellites at about 5:30 am. A bright, nearly full moon was beginning to set in the west. A bit of a late start with the distance I had to do - I was not likely to finish much before 10 am. The temperature just before dawn has been around 75 degrees (today was no exception). The reprieve I got was that it was not quite as humid as it has been lately. That made a big difference!

The first portion of my run was mostly in the dark. Since I am on the sidewalk I don't usually worry about traffic except for the occasional car coming from the side streets. I have started wearing a reflective "thing" (not a vest but just straps that lay over my shoulders and around my waist) so that any car coming would light me up like a Christmas tree. I figure it is better to be really visible and safe.

I ran the first 10.5 miles in just over 2 hours before stopping at the house for refills. This part of the run went really well. I was running comfortably and my heart rate was in the mid 140's - in a good part of my aerobic zone. I felt I had plenty of gas in the tank for the other 9 miles. The difference was that the sun had risen and it was going to make things more difficult for me!

I continued to run conservatively...running 5 minutes and walking 1. I didn't really start to "feel it" until around mile 14. My walking breaks got a bit slower which made my overall pace slower. Around mile 16 is when I started to have that "I really want to finish this" feeling - which is pretty good, since my last big run was 17 miles.

I was able to maintain my run 5 walk 1 pace until the very last mile, where I snuck an extra walking break before finishing the last .2 mile strong. I stopped the Garmin at 19.14 miles and walked the remaining .1 miles to the house. The finish time was 4 hours, 9 minutes, 5 seconds - a 13:01 pace. I was happy with the result and how good I felt throughout the run.

The overall stats:

19.14 miles
4:09:05 / 13:01 min/mile (faster than my pace for the previous 17 miler)
AHR 149, MHR 173 (really good AHR)
3228 calories burned (according to Garmin)
6 Clif Shots, 64 oz of water
Ice bath afterwards
Beginning temp: 75 deg F
Ending tem: 84 deg F

9 comments:

Maddy said...

Way to get out there and accomplish your goal! I'm proud of you!

Up before dawn and hitting the road! Awesome!

Petraruns said...

Well done you on achieving that amazing goal! What a thing to be proud of at 46!

And up at 5:30 - in itself - is something to be proud of. Happy birthday, once again

Kimberly said...

Great JOB!!! Running in the heat is bad but I agree that the sun really sucks the strength from you. You really inspire me by getting up so early and putting in the miles. CONGRATULATIONS on 46 years on the planet and finishing 46 miles in a week. !!!!!!(berly6412)

Tammy said...

Way to go on the miledge, hopefully when I turn 46 I can do the same. My big date with the hospital is 10/10 (the day before I was suppose to do my half) Training should start by the end of October, I'm already counting the days.

Keep up the great work, you a true inspiration.

Star Wars Runner said...

Hey Chris,

I heard you say on the extra mile podcast that you are going to run the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon on November 16th. I am from San Antonio and I am training for the SARNR Marathon also. This will be my first marathon. Check out my blog at starwarsrunner.blogspot.com.

What brings you to SA? The RNR marathon or something else. You can email me at cwjohn777@yahoo.com.

Chad

ShirleyPerly said...

Excellent job, Chris!! What a great gift to yourself.

Hawaii's morning temps are not all that different from Orlando but I've noticed that the lower humidity makes a big difference. Glad it was a big drier for your run.

Susan said...

Excellent!You've done a GREAT thing. And on top of that, you're going to kick butt in San Antonio. Congrats!

lizzie lee said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 46 series of things... I will not copycat... I am going 52!!!!

lizzie lee said...

It is hard for me too to stick with a running schedule meanwhile traveling.. There are places that make it pretty much impossible, like the time I was in Huntsville for 2 weeks. Hot as hell, the gym was hotter than outside, and logged 85 hrs a week...How to run? just don't...